Mutant Brown Ale Help

[Badseed]

OK so I have an idea of making a slightly apricot flavored brown ale. I am hoping to get a smooth, medium body with a hint of apricot flavor, hint of caramel and coffee, low-med bitterness and a nice dark color. Here is the recipe I have came up with so please critique and let me know where I may be missing something or need to make changes. I haven't decided exactly how much apricot flavor to add yet but I am guessing that it will be between 4 and 8 ounces. I plan on doing so simple taste tests on another brown to see what strength is ideal.


Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 6.27 gal
Post Boil Volume: 5.52 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 5.00 gal
Bottling Volume: 4.78 gal
Estimated OG: 1.052 SG
Estimated Color: 26.5 SRM
Estimated IBU: 21.9 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 85.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 0.0 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
4.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L (60.0 SRM) Grain 5 2.7 %
1.00 oz Willamette [5.50 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 9 21.1 IBUs
1.0 pkg American Ale II (Wyeast Labs #1272) [124 Yeast 12 -
8.0 oz Pale Malt (2 Row) Bel (3.0 SRM) Grain 1 5.4 %
4.00 oz Apricot Extract (Bottling 5.0 mins) Flavor 13 -
4.0 oz Biscuit Malt (23.0 SRM) Grain 3 2.7 %
4.0 oz Black Roasted Barley (Stout) (500.0 SRM) Grain 4 2.7 %
4.0 oz Chocolate Malt (400.0 SRM) Grain 6 2.7 %
4.0 oz Special B Malt (150.0 SRM) Grain 7 2.7 %
8.0 oz White Wheat Malt (2.4 SRM) Grain 2 5.4 %
6 lbs Amber Liquid Extract (10.5 SRM) Extract 8 64.9 %
1.00 oz Northern Brewer [9.00 %] - Aroma Steep 1 Hop 11 0.0 IBUs
1 lbs Bavarian Wheat DME [Boil for20 min](3.0 Dry Extract 10 10.8 %

 

[hopsalot]

Apricot is a subtle flavor:

http://www.northernbrewer.com/brewing/oregon-apricot-puree.html

Use this whole thing!!!

 

[Badseed]

After a little math work I added just enough extract to a 12 oz brown to get an idea of how 4 oz/5 gallons would work. I think I am looking for a little more flavor so perhaps 6-8 oz is better I will know shortly.:rockin:

 

[hopsalot]

I didnt read that you were going to use an extract earlier. That may be enough then

 

[Badseed]

Opinions or insight to the grain percentages? This is going to be my first non-kit brew.

 

[Badseed]

Does anyone see a reason why these grains and listed percentages would not work together? I know that there is some strategy to properly blending grains to achieve the proper balance but I don't know it.

 

[Bithead]

I'd ditch the Black Roasted Barley, Chocolate and Special B Malts. I think they're too roasty and prominent flavors for the subtle flavor of apricot.

 

[Badseed]

Anybody else? I may be a little optimistic but I have large expectations for this beer.